Abrading apparatus



R. A` SKRIBA June 14, 1932.

ABRADING APPARATUS 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed April 27, 1927 June 14, 1932. R A. SKRlBA 1,862,583

ABRADING APPARATUS Filed April 27. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 54 /az a isp* J9 H76 Patented June 14, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT? OFFICE RUDOLPH ANTHONY SKRIBA, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR-TO WESTERN ELEC- TRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, F NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK 'Application led April 27,

This invention relates to abrading apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus for wet grinding.

The object of this invention 1s to provlde a simple and efcient wet grinding apparatus embodying means having a wide range of adjustment for applying liquid to the abrading element.

The features of this invention are p articularly well adapted for use with grindlng apparatus wherein it is necessary to apply a liquid spray to the grinding elements 1n order to eliminate dust and other foreign particles produced during grinding operations.

n accordance with one embodiment of this invention as applied to a grinding apparatus employing a plurality. of rotary grinding wheels, nozzles are provided whereby water is ejected by air pressure 1n the form of spray against the face of each wheel, the nozzles each. being mounted on a vertical pivot for independent arcuate movement across the face of the associated wheel and also for spraying either side face thereof. The vertical pivot is also adjustable 1n a horizontal direction toward the grindlng wheel as it becomes worn and the nozzle is arranged to limit the adjusting movement 80 of an air and water needle valve thereof. Readily removable receptacles mounted in depressed pockets formed in a hollow supporting pedestal below each wheel collects the spent spray and prevents the return thereof to a water supply receptacle mounted on the inside of a vert-ical door hinged to the lower part of Athe pedestal.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become clearly apparent in the following detailed description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a wet grinding apparatus embodying the features of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of an air operated water spray nozzle;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4 4 of Fig.

A BRADING APPARATUS 1927. Serial No. 186,889.

Fig. 3 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, and

Fig. 7 is a diagram of the electrical circuit employed.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference numerals refer to similar parts, a hollow pedestal 10 carries upon its upper surface an electric motor 11, o posite ends of the shaft thereof having Xed thereto grinding wheels 12.

Mounted in the hollow pedestal 10 near its base is a receptacle 13 for holding a supply of water, which in the operation of the apparatus is drawn therefrom and sprayed either onto the peripheral or the side working faces of the grindinar wheels 12 by means to be described hereinafter. To facilitate the lling of the receptacle 13 with water it is fixed to t-he rear wall of a closure or door 14 hinged at its lower horizontal end upon the front wall of the pedestal 10. A pivotal handle 17 is provided upon the door 14 to move the receptacle 13 to its filling position, indicated by broken lines (Fig. 2), and to lock the door in its closed position a latch 18 is fixed to the inner end of a pin 19 to the outer end of which the handle 17 is attached. Within the pedestal 10 above the receptacle 13 is a snap switch 20 for controlling an electrical circuit (Fig. 7) connected to the motor 11, a key 21 for operating the switch being arranged in a convenient position at the front of the apparat-us and projecting through a removable panel 22. The panel 22 at its lower end is provided with a latchable hinged section 23, which provides access to a fuse block (not shown) mounted within the pedestal 10. Referring particularly to Fig. 5 the key 21 is fixed to a stem 24 of the switch 20, the stem having formed integral therewith a cam portion 25. Arranged to engage the cam portion 25 is a spring pressed reciprocal stem 28 of an air valve 29 which is connected to asuitable source of compressed air (not shown) through a line 30, an air outlet line being indicated at 31. The arrangement between the switch 20 and the valve 29 is such that simultaneously with the closing of the switch the valve 29 is opened and vice versa. The compressed air valve 29 being of a well known type it is believed no detai description thereof is necessary, since it does not form a feature of this invention. Removably mounted in depressed pockets formed in the upper end of the pedestal 10 and below each of the wheels 12 is a pan 32 for collecting the water condensed from the atomized spray directed against the wheel whereby the used or spent water is kept separa-ted from the fresh supply contained in the receptacle 13.

Upright brackets 35 are fixed to the upper surface of the pedestal 10, one directly behind each of the wheels 12, and support the water `spraying means hereinbefore referred to and which will be described presently. As each of the grinding apparatus disposed at either end of the shaft of the motor 11, as viewed in Fig. 1, is identical. a description of the br^cket 35 at the right end of the shaft and the spraying means supported thereby will be `given. The bracket 35 it will be noted, referring to Fig. 2, extends upwardly from its base portion which is secured to the top surface of the pedestal 10 and then curves forward around the wheel 12 and terminates in a bifurcated portion 36 centered directly above the grinding wheel 12. Formed integral with the bracket 35 is a hood 37 extending across the front of the wheel 12 and rearward along each side thereof for a suicient distance to collect any spray of Water thrown off by the wheel. Hinged vertically, as shown at 38, to each of the brackets 35 upon their outer sides, as viewed in Fig. 1 and at the rear of the wheels 12 (Fig. 2), is a cover or guard 41 provided with a recessed portion 42 for covering the end of the motor shaft and the means (not shown) for securing the wheel l2 thereto. The guard 41 is maintained in its closed position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 by means of a thumb screw 43 (Fig. 2) which is operatively associated with the guard and the bracket 35. When changing the grinding wheel the thumb screw 43 is released whereupon the guard 41 mav be swung outwardly to remove the wheel after swinging upwardly an adjustable front guard 44. The guard 44 is pivoted at 45 upon the bracket 35 and may be adjusted upwardly or downwardly as desired, the position thereof being maintained by a wing nut 46 (Fig. 1).

Mounted between the arms of the'bifurcated portion 36 of the bracket 35 is an L- shaped member 49 (Figs. 3 and 4) comprising a holder for a water spraying nozzle or air operated atomizer indicated generally by the numeral 50. A horizontal arm 51 (Figs.

3 and 4) of the holder 49 is rectangularin cross-section and fits closely between the 1nner opposed surfaces of the arms of the b1- furcated portion 36 of the bracket 35 and is rigidly retained in a predetermined horizontal position upon the bracket by means of a thumb screw 52 threaded into a cross plate 53 secured to the arms of the bifurcated ortion 36, the inner end of the screw bearing against the upper surface of the support 49. lpon the grinding wheel 12 wearing down to such a degree that the nozzle 50 is not properly directing the atomized spray onto the periphery of the wheel, the thum screw 52 is released from its clamping enga-gement with the arm 51 of the holder 49, whereupon the latter may be moved toward the right (Fig. 3) upon the bracket 35 until the nozzle w1ll properly direct the spray, and thereafter reclamped. Water and compressed air lines 54 and 55, respectively, counected to the arm 51 are arranged and composed of such material that they readily flex during the adjustment of the nozzle 50 as just described without any appreciable harm thereto. Pivotally carried upon a circular' shaped tapered vert-ical arm 56 of the support 49 is a nozzle casin 57 provided with an aperture 58 shaped to t the arm 56. The nozzle casing 57 is secured upon the arm 56 by a nut 5.8 threaded onto a stem 59 of the arm 56, a spring Washer 60 surrounding the stem between the nut and the casin 57 adjacent the circular ta red surface o the arm 56 to thereby provide such a fit therebetween that leakage of air and water which, as will be presently described, passes through the holder 49 and into the nozzle casing, will not occur and also to provide means for maintaininor the casing in its adjusted position upon the holder, thearm 56 serving as a vertical pivot for the casin An air and water neele valve carried by the vertically pivoted casing 57 and comprising therewlth the water sprayingnozzle 50 or air operated atomizer hereinbeforc referred to will now be described.

The casing 57 of the nozzle 50 upon its left side (Figs. 2 and 3) is angularly disposed whereby the atomized spray may either be directed against the peri hery of the wheel when in the position s own or against either side face thereof when turned upon its vertical pivot toward the left or right as viewed in Fig. 1. The angularly disposed portion of the casing 57 is provided with a shouldered aperture 63 which at its upper end is enlarged to receive a valve glandy 64 threaded thereinto, the gland being provided with a threaded aperture 65 for receiving a valve needle 66 in the form of a shouldered tube provided with a main longitudinally extending aperture 67 which is greatly reduced in size at its lower end, as indicated at 68, the diameter of the needle surrounding the aperture 68 also being reduced in diameter. The upper extremity of the needle 66 is provided with an enlarged circular head portion 70, the correspondlng end ofthe aperture 67 being closed by a plug 71 threaded thereinto. Fixed to the head 70 of the needle 66 by a set screw 72 is a circular knob 73 for adjusting the needle whereby the nozzle 50 may be setto emit a desired water spray upon the peri hery of the wheel 12 as will be fully descri ed presently. A circular shoulder recess 74 is formed in the underside of the knob 73 for receiving the head 70 of the needle 66, while an enlarged portion 77 of the recess receives a hexagon shaped head 78 of the valve gland 64. A nut 79 threaded onto the valve gland 64 is for the purpose of locking the latter member in position. The circular wall of the gland 64 at its lower end is slotted at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the aperture 65 to provide four passageways 80 spaced on 90 centers (Fig. 6) for passage of compressed air from an annular chamber 81 formed in the casing 57 .along the aperture 63 thereof and into a passage 82 formed in the needle 66 at right angles to its longitudinal aperture 67. Slidably fitted in the aperture 63 and around the needle 66 and positioned below the slotted end of the gland 64 is a brass collar 83, the collar abutting a packing collar 84 composed of suitable material, such as felt, fitted within the aperture 63 and around the needle 66, the lower surface of 'the latter collar abutting a shoulder formed in the aperture 63. By threading the gland 64 downwardly the collar 84 may be compressed suliciently to prevent the escape of air from the annular chamber 81 into an annular chamber 85 formed in the casing 57 between the walls of the aperture 63 thereof and the peripheral surface of a reduced diameter of the lower end of the needle 66, this latter chamber being a water chamber. Threaded onto the lower extremity of the casing 57 is a tip 86 provided with a spray aperture 88. Formed between the peripheralf surface ofthe reduced extreme lower end of the needle 66 and the tip 86 is an annular chamber 89 which connects at opposite ends with the spray aperture 88 and the annular chamber 85. 1t will be apparent from the description hereinbefore given that the needle 66 may be raised or lowered to adjust the size of the annular chamber 89 and thereby vary the volume of water emitted from the aperture 88, by rotating the knob 73 secured to the upper end of the needle one way or the other.

Means is provided for limiting the raising of the needle 66 to a predetermined height so that a proper spraying will occur without a waste of water, which comprises the following: Fixed to an upper surface of the casing 57 is a pin 90 which extends into an arcuate elongated depression 91 concentrically formed in the lower surface of the knob 73. The ends of the depression 91 are so disposed that the passage between the annular chambers 85 and 89 will be closed entirely in rotating the knob in one direction until it abuts the pin 90, while the abutting of the pm against the knob in a movement in the opposite direction results in enlarging the passage to its maximum size, thereby limiting the volume of water entering the chamber 89.

The compressed air outlet line 31 leading from the air valve 29 is connecte-d by a suitable coupling 92 at the rear ofthe pedestal to a pair of compressed air lines 55 branching from the coupling with each line 55 connected to a continuous air channel 95 formed in the horizontal and 56, respectively, of each of the holders 49 supporting the water spraying nozzles 50 or air operated atomizers. lines 54 from the receptacle 13 are each connected to a continuous water channel 96 formed in the arms 51 and 56 of each of the holders 49. The lower ends of the channels 95 and 96 in the vertical arm 56 each connect with annular chambers 97 and 98, respectively, encircling the arm 56 and formed in the aperture 58 of the casing 57 upon different vertical planes by channels 99 and 100, respectively, disposed at right angles to the channels 95 and 96. Formed in the casing 57 are channels 101 and 102 which connect the chambers 97 and 81 and the chambers 98 and 85, respectively.

The operation of the hereinbefore described grinding apparatus is as follows: Upon closing the switch by operating the key 21 the electrical circuit to the motor 11` is closed, thus the grinding wheels `12 are set in motion. Simultaneously therewith, as hereinbefore described, the normally closed compressed air valve 29 is opened to connect the air supply line with the outlet line 31 and through the coupling 92 each of the air lines and the associated channels and chambers supply compressed air to the nozzles 50, the air entering the aperture 67 of the needle 66 and through the reduced aperture 68 which serves to increase the velocity thereof into the chamber 89. The air in the chamber 89 directly in front of and surroundin;r the discharge aperture 68 of the needle 66 is caught and carried by the rapidly moving air emerging from the needle 66, thereby creating a partial vacuum in the chamber 85. This vacuum lifts the water from the supply receptacle 13 into the chamber 89.

Upon reaching the chamber 89 the water is broken up into small particles by the high velocity air emerging from the aperture 68 of the needle 66 and ejected through the aperture 88 at the tip of the nozzle/in the form of a. fine or atomized spray which is directed on the periphery of the grinding wheel 12 in vertical arms 51 and A Similarly the two water y 4 assesses the position of the nozzle, as shown in the drawings or may bedirected against either side surface thereof as hereinbefore described by rota the nozzle upon its verti- 5 cal pivot in case e operator is to grind on the side of the wheel. To re late the volume of water ejected in the orm vof aga from the nozzle th operator rotates the o\ 73 which raises or lowers the needle 66, the

l0 pin 90 and depression 91 cooperating to limit the movement of the needle in either direc tion. When through ding, the operator merely operates the l ey 21 of the switch which opens the circuit to the motor 11 and u at the saine instant the sprin pressed air valvel 29 is automatically c and thereby the spra nozzles become inoperative. As hereinbe ore described any waste water along .with the condensed spray and grinding par- 0 ticles drips into the pans convenient y arbelow the wheels, for removal when full, the water supply contained in the receptacle 13 thus being kept free of the used water. When additional fresh water is required it may be readily added to the receptacle 18 by openin the door 14. The lower lower end and so mounted that its upper end can be/ swu outwardly while maintaining said tube wit in the receptacle.

4. In an abrading apparatus, a rotary abradin element, means for applying an ato spray of liquid thereto, means formedinte withtheslprayapplyin means and proyi ed with a p urality of c annels oommumcatingwith passageways formed in the spray applying means,means forrotatably support said integral means in a plurality of adJuste positions, said sup having channels formed therein in continuous communication lwith the channels in the integral means in any of the adjusted positions oftlie ray app yingmeans, and means for adnista ly mountinlg the supporting means with the spray ap ying means so that the latter maybe mov toward the peri heral face of the abrading element as it be comes worn.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 15th da of A ril A. D., 1927.

vRUDOLPH AN O ends of the water mes 54 are positioned and arranged in the rece tacle 13 in such a manner that the are at a times in operative relal0 tion with the receptacle even when adding water thereto, as indicated by the dotted line position (Fig. 2).

Althou h the construction and arrangement of tige spray nozzles with their substan- '5 tially universal adjustment and the control mechanism therefor illustrated in the drawings and hereinbefore described may be used to advantage in connection with the present y embodiment of this invention, it should be 0 understood that this invention is not to be limited to the particular construction shown, exce t as defined by the appended claims.

at is claimed is:

1. In an abrading apparatus, an abradin 'fm element, means for applying an atomize ray of liquid thereto, means for adjusting t e spraiy aplying means to control the volume of iqui passin therefrom, and means i o ratively associa therewith` for limiting t e adjustment ofthe spray applying means.

2. In an abrading apparatus, a rota abrading member, an atomizing nozzle directed tangentially of the abrading member A for maintaining a continuous atomized spray at the int of abrading and in the region surrounding said point, and means for adjustably rotating the nozzle about an axis inclined to the axis of the nozzle. l 3. An abrading ap aratus comprising a 0 hollow frame, an abraing element mounted thereon, a liquid holding receptacle in said frame, and means including a tube extending into said receptacle for -transferrin therefrom to the surface of said abra ing ele- Il ment, said receptacle being pivoted near its liquidl rting means SKRIBA. 

